Senate Dem divide emerges as progressives warn against ending shutdown

Divisions are erupting among Senate Democrats over the government shutdown. 

A group of moderate-leaning members are signaling they are moving toward a possible resolution to end the shutdown, much to the chagrin of progressive colleagues, who were buoyed by Tuesday’s election results and believe it is worth keeping up the battle over health care. 

Democrats writ large got a massive shot in the arm Tuesday night with key victories in Virginia, New Jersey, California and New York City that President Trump even acknowledged Wednesday morning. 

Those wins, however, were a blessing and a curse for Democrats on Capitol Hill, as they raise questions for the future of the government shutdown, which hit Day 36 on Wednesday — setting a record in the process. 

A group of moderate-leaning Democrats continue to meet with Republicans and have inched closer to a deal that would break the impasse. The possibility of such a deal is grating to a number of progressives who believe the election results send a message to them that now is not the time to quit fighting. 

“I’m hoping that my colleagues read the election results as I do, which is that it should embolden us to know the American people are on our side,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said. “We took the right position. We’re on the right side of the issue and on the right side of history, and I’m hoping that that feeling will be more deeply supported now.”

The potential deal centered on a vote on expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies in some form, a short-term spending bill with a package of three full-year funding bills attached.

But discussions are not only happening across the aisle — they are also ongoing within the Democratic caucus. 

Roughly a dozen Democratic lawmakers involved in negotiations to find an off-ramp met Wednesday, with a full caucus meeting set for Thursday over lunch to plot out the road ahead. Those also come on the heels of a nearly three-hour meeting members had over lunch Tuesday. 

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), a member of the negotiating group, told reporters talks were continuing, despite Tuesday’s election results. 

“There are good discussions ongoing,” she told reporters after lunch. “There are still good discussions.”

At the core of the debate for Democrats is what counts as a win after the prolonged shutdown: a deal on the ACA subsidies or a process that includes the vote on tax credits and a commitment to the full-year appropriations. 

Progressives are adamant that the former is the only way forward. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who has been the most prominent voice in favor of keeping the government shuttered to fight for a health care deal, went so far as to speak to reporters at a press conference called by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) before it got underway. 

“Some of you may have heard the expression, when we fight, we win. You ever hear that?” Sanders said. “Well, when you cave, you lose,” 

Democrats also received a boost from President Trump in the process, after he argued the shutdown was a key negative for Republicans in Tuesday’s elections. It marked one of the few instances of Republicans showing weakness during the government closure, handing progressives a reason to keep pushing for a subsidies deal. 

Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) didn’t waste any time on their end to try to rope Trump into negotiations by calling for him and GOP leaders to sit down with them to hammer out a deal, with Democratic lawmakers believing Trump still holds the keys to breaking the stalemate. 

“That’s problematic for a lot of people that the president is not speaking up of what he wants and what he thinks should happen. It’s hard to have confidence in a compromise if he’s not on board,” Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) said. 

According to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), Trump will only meet with the pair about health care after the government reopens. Trump said as much during a phone conversation between the two Wednesday morning. 

The ongoing nature of talks also raises the possibility of the chamber remaining in session past Thursday afternoon, when senators would normally wrap up work, for a rare Friday or weekend session to process a potential deal. 

Thune on Wednesday kept the door open to that, depending on the progress made by negotiators. 

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), who is part of the negotiating group, pressed that while the election was certainly a positive, something has to be resolved related to the shutdown. 

“[The American people] want people to be problem solvers,” Kelly told The Hill. “Last night was a good night — but it was one night of the year.”

“We are continuing to have discussions with the Republicans on a reasonable path forward that addresses these high healthcare costs,” he said. “Outcomes are always preferable. We also recognize that the president is holding kids hostage with their getting access to food. That’s a real issue we have to deal with.”